The Season of Creation, an ecumenical initiative, begins on September 1—the World Day of Prayer for Creation in the Orthodox churches (since 1989) and the Catholic Church (since 2015)—and concludes on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In 2019, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Pope Francis lent their support to observance of the season.

“May this year’s theme, ‘Listen to the voice of creation,’ foster a concrete commitment in each person to take care of our common home,” the Pope tweeted on September 1. “Prey to our consumerist excesses, our sister, mother earth, weeps and implores us to put an end to our abuses and destruction.”